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The Journal
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Aontú leader says social housing waiting list figures are 'out by the population of Tullamore'
AONTÚ LEADER PEADAR Tóibín has claimed that the Government is 'understating' both homelessness figures and the numbers of people on social housing waiting lists. Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon during Leader's Questions, Tóibín said he had submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to every Local Authority and that the information he received 'contradicted the information the Government is giving out'. He said he asked all Local Authorities for the 'number of homeless people that exist throughout the State' and that the current figure provided is 16,472. The most recent figures released by the Government stood at 15,580. 'Your government is understating the number of homeless people in this state by 892 people currently,' said Tóbín. He added that he also asked Local Authorities for the number of people on housing waiting lists and that the combined figure across the State that he received was 75,000. The most recent official government figure is 58,824. 'Your ability to count the number of people who are on the housing waiting list at the moment is out by the population of Tullamore,' said Tóbín. Tóbín also asked Local Authorities about the number of council-owned homes that are currently empty, and this figure across the State is 3,779. 'Having empty homes in the middle of a housing crisis is akin to exporting food in the middle of the famine,' said Tóibín. In a statement to the PA news agency, Aontú said the highest council-owned home vacancy rate was in Cork City at 355, followed by Dublin City Council at 336, Fingal at 323 and Limerick and City Council at 315. Speaking in the Dáil, Tóibín added that the government is 'paying nearly €600 million to house people in RAS (Rental Accommodation Scheme) and HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) home while so many Local Authority homes are empty'. Tóbín asked if this was government 'incompetence' or if it was 'actually misleading the general public'. In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: 'I hate to burst your 'gotcha' moment, but I'd suggest that you might wish to interrogate your numbers'. Harris said there 'can be duplications' and people 'involved with more than one Local Authority'. Advertisement Meanwhile, Harris said that 'this is what people do when they seek to be divisive, to try and dispute official figures'. He added that these figures 'aren't calculated by government in a party political sense' and that they are calculated in a 'robust, impartial manner'. 'If we could at least have the decency to respect the impartiality and robustness of those who gather statistics in Ireland, because if we start trying to erode belief in statistics, that's part of a bigger agenda I think,' said Harris. However, Tóbín said 'you cannot be on two social housing lists simultaneously'. 'Either you're incompetent and you're not able to count the number of people who are actually on waiting lists at the moment, or you're trying to hide the fact,' said Tóbín. 'The reason why I think you're misleading the people is because you have previous on this. 'Right up to the jaws of the last general election, you were determined to give the impression that 40,000 homes were going to be built that year. 'As soon as that election was finished, it became very clear that that statement was wrong. 'This housing crisis is far too serious for misinformation,' said Tóibín. The government has previously defended supplying the public with incorrect figures in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin insisting that he and his party had not attempted to mislead the public with the inflated figures. Harris replied by stating that 'this is far too serious to engage in conspiracy theories'. 'You suggest I'm going around counting people here,' said Harris. 'The reality is we have robust, politically independent, impartial structures in our state. 'I want to know who in the public service you're calling 'incompetent', it's our public service and they do a bloody good job.'. 'I made the point in relation to the duplication regarding how you can report homelessness in more than one area and that didn't suit you,' said Harris. He added: 'We're working on trying to make progress – day in, day out, new ideas, big, bold decisions, every day to get to the 300,000 homes (by 2030). 'You're just simply over there throwing brickbats and engaging in conspiracy theories.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Tóibín: Aontú would keep rent pressure zones and scrap VAT on housing materials if in government
AONTÚ LEADER PEADAR Tóibín today outlined three policies that his party would adopt in an effort to resolve the housing crisis, coming off the back of the party's Ard Fheis yesterday. The Ard Fheis was held in Gormanstown, Co Meath yesterday, and was shown live on RTÉ in a signifier of the party's growth since its establishment in 2019. The party now has two TDs in Tóibín and Paul Lawless, one senator in Sarah O'Reilly, and six councillors. Among the topics discussed at the event were immigration, housing, and government spending. Today, Tóibín reiterated several of his views. He called for the housing crisis to be declared an emergency, an approach similar to other opposition parties. This would allow the government to push through policies for the public good that would not typically be permitted, such as bypassing some planning laws and objections. The housing target for this year is 41,000 homes, as set out in the programme for government. It became clear earlier this year that it was incredibly unlikely that the government would manage to meet its self-imposed housing target . Last year, the government missed out on the 40,000 homes then Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien said it was aiming for, and Housing for All plan's target of 33,450. The government has also signalled imminent change to rent pressure zones (RPZs). The rent caps are due to expire at the end of this year. Advertisement Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín speaking at the party's Ard Fheis at the City North hotel in Gormanstown. Alan Rowlette / © Alan Rowlette / © / © If Aontú were to enter government, it would keep rent pressure zones as well as scrapping VAT on housing materials, including construction of homes, Tóibín said. 'We would actually lower the VAT in terms of building homes. At the moment, you have an incredible situation where Micheál Martin is actually talking about getting rid of rent caps to families who are paying two thousand euros [a month]. 'We will keep the rent pressure zones and make it cheaper to build homes by getting rid of VAT. It is absolutely wrong that you have VAT in terms of building those homes,' Tóibín said. In February, the party leader released figures provided by the government that showed that the government had collected close to €3 billion in VAT on housing materials and construction services in 2024 , the highest amount ever collected in a single year. In 2015, the figure was set at €1.2m. 'We'd make it far easier to draw down the refurbishment grants for the 168,000 empty homes. The speed that the government is going in at the moment, in terms of those means it's going to take 115 years before those homes can be brought back into use,' Tóibín said. Operation Shamrock was also discussed. The Aontú initiative would see Irish construction workers in Canada and Australia offered a €10,000 grant to return home and work in the sector for four years. 'We would use current construction exemption regulation to build homes for those in a far speeder time than it takes at the moment.' On other issues, party delegates yesterday voted to adopt party motions including a ban on allowing anyone who has purposefully destroyed their documents to enter the country, and a ban of 'the introduction of Sharia law' or 'community courts of any religion'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
